First Orchid Festival opens in HCM City

First Orchid Festival opened at Tao Dan Park in District 1, Ho Chi Minh, on Saturday, drawing the participation of many gardeners, flower farmers and plant firms from the city and surrounding localities.

The five-day festival is part of activities to celebrate the 44th anniversary of the Liberation of South Vietnam and National Reunification (April 30) and May Day. Covering nearly 10 hectares, the festival is designed and divided into 19 miniature landscapes using nearly 20,000 orchid braches and pots. Addressing the opening ceremony, Le Thanh Liem, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee, said through the festival, the city wants to introduce and promote orchid varieties with high economic value to local and international visitors. It also aims to introduce wild orchids and typical flowers of localities, thereby connecting eco-tourism growth with urban agricultural development. Within the framework of the festival, there are interesting activities like an orchid and ornamental tree exhibition, orchid and bonsai tree competitions, a miniature garden contest. The festival is also to a place for orchid lovers, artisans and gardeners to meet to exchange skills and experiences from planting, caring and breeding orchids to designing garden landscapes for urban areas.